Christian Standard Bible | New Living Translation |
1Then Elihu continued, saying: | 1Then Elihu said: |
2Hear my words, you wise ones, and listen to me, you knowledgeable ones. | 2“Listen to me, you wise men. Pay attention, you who have knowledge. |
3Doesn't the ear test words as the palate tastes food? | 3Job said, ‘The ear tests the words it hears just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.’ |
4Let us judge for ourselves what is right; let us decide together what is good. | 4So let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good. |
5For Job has declared, "I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice. | 5For Job also said, ‘I am innocent, but God has taken away my rights. |
6Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression." | 6I am innocent, but they call me a liar. My suffering is incurable, though I have not sinned.’ |
7What man is like Job? He drinks derision like water. | 7“Tell me, has there ever been a man like Job, with his thirst for irreverent talk? |
8He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men. | 8He chooses evil people as companions. He spends his time with wicked men. |
9For he has said, "A man gains nothing when he becomes God's friend." | 9He has even said, ‘Why waste time trying to please God?’ |
10Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding. It is impossible for God to do wrong, and for the Almighty to act unjustly. | 10“Listen to me, you who have understanding. Everyone knows that God doesn’t sin! The Almighty can do no wrong. |
11For he repays a person according to his deeds, and he gives him what his conduct deserves. | 11He repays people according to their deeds. He treats people as they deserve. |
12Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly and the Almighty does not pervert justice. | 12Truly, God will not do wrong. The Almighty will not twist justice. |
13Who gave him authority over the earth? Who put him in charge of the entire world? | 13Did someone else put the world in his care? Who set the whole world in place? |
14If he put his mind to it and withdrew the spirit and breath he gave, | 14If God were to take back his spirit and withdraw his breath, |
15every living thing would perish together and mankind would return to the dust. | 15all life would cease, and humanity would turn again to dust. |
16If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I have to say. | 16“Now listen to me if you are wise. Pay attention to what I say. |
17Could one who hates justice govern the world? Will you condemn the mighty Righteous One, | 17Could God govern if he hated justice? Are you going to condemn the almighty judge? |
18who says to a king, "Worthless man!" and to nobles, "Wicked men!"? | 18For he says to kings, ‘You are wicked,’ and to nobles, ‘You are unjust.’ |
19God is not partial to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands. | 19He doesn’t care how great a person may be, and he pays no more attention to the rich than to the poor. He made them all. |
20They die suddenly in the middle of the night; people shudder, then pass away. Even the mighty are removed without effort. | 20In a moment they die. In the middle of the night they pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand. |
21For his eyes watch over a man's ways, and he observes all his steps. | 21“For God watches how people live; he sees everything they do. |
22There is no darkness, no deep darkness, where evildoers can hide. | 22No darkness is thick enough to hide the wicked from his eyes. |
23God does not need to examine a person further, that one should approach him in court. | 23We don’t set the time when we will come before God in judgment. |
24He shatters the mighty without an investigation and sets others in their place. | 24He brings the mighty to ruin without asking anyone, and he sets up others in their place. |
25Therefore, he recognizes their deeds and overthrows them by night, and they are crushed. | 25He knows what they do, and in the night he overturns and destroys them. |
26In full view of the public, he strikes them for their wickedness, | 26He strikes them down because they are wicked, doing it openly for all to see. |
27because they turned aside from following him and did not understand any of his ways | 27For they turned away from following him. They have no respect for any of his ways. |
28but caused the poor to cry out to him, and he heard the outcry of the needy. | 28They cause the poor to cry out, catching God’s attention. He hears the cries of the needy. |
29But when God is silent, who can declare him guilty? When he hides his face, who can see him? Yet he watches over both individuals and nations, | 29But if he chooses to remain quiet, who can criticize him? When he hides his face, no one can find him, whether an individual or a nation. |
30so that godless men should not rule or ensnare the people. | 30He prevents the godless from ruling so they cannot be a snare to the people. |
31Suppose someone says to God, "I have endured my punishment; I will no longer act wickedly. | 31“Why don’t people say to God, ‘I have sinned, but I will sin no more’? |
32Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I won't do it again." | 32Or ‘I don’t know what evil I have done—tell me. If I have done wrong, I will stop at once’? |
33Should God repay you on your terms when you have rejected his? You must choose, not I! So declare what you know. | 33“Must God tailor his justice to your demands? But you have rejected him! The choice is yours, not mine. Go ahead, share your wisdom with us. |
34Reasonable men will say to me, along with the wise men who hear me, | 34After all, bright people will tell me, and wise people will hear me say, |
35"Job speaks without knowledge; his words are without insight." | 35‘Job speaks out of ignorance; his words lack insight.’ |
36If only Job were tested to the limit, because his answers are like those of wicked men. | 36Job, you deserve the maximum penalty for the wicked way you have talked. |
37For he adds rebellion to his sin; he scornfully claps in our presence, while multiplying his words against God. | 37For you have added rebellion to your sin; you show no respect, and you speak many angry words against God.” |
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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